Bolt eager to make Games debut

Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt is eager to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow

Get the latest local news
straight to your inbox every day

Usain Bolt landed in Glasgow on Saturday afternoon and immediately underlined his commitment to the Commonwealth Games.

The fastest man of all time is the leading name at the Games and has flown halfway around the world in order to compete in the 4x100 metres relay.

An injury earlier in the season means he is restricting himself to just the relay rather than the individual sprints, causing some to question why he has taken on such a journey for just the one event.

But Bolt told a media conference just after flying into Scotland of a long-held ambition to be a Commonwealth athlete and that he will be running in the heats of the relay as well in order to get his fitness right.

"For me it was very important (to be here)," he said.

"I expressed it to my coach and I am happy to be here. I have always wanted to compete in the Games. The first one in Australia (in 2006) I strained my hamstring and in 2010 in India it was in October, which is a bad time for me.

"I got injured earlier in this season and I didn't want to take anyone's spot so I decided 'why not just come in the 4x100m?'"

Bolt fielded lots of left-field requests during the press conference, ranging from asking if he would wear a kilt to journalists asking him for a selfie.

Serious questions were posed, though, such as if he felt that the Games needed him and other big names to commit after the withdrawal of a number of stars.

"I don't think anyone has dropped on purpose," he added. "It happens in the Olympics, it happens in the World Championships. It's one of those things."

Bolt also buried his head in his hands while laughing when asked if he had any plans to pull out himself.

"That's a very weird question," he said. "I am here to run. Why else would I travel all this way to Glasgow? I will be running, definitely."

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here